DSA Sustainable Schools Program and CALGreen Code Update

Room: 101
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
CEUs: 1 AIA LU/HSW

As California continues to lead the nation in climate action, the design and construction of schools play a vital role in shaping healthy, resilient, and sustainable communities. This session will explore the Sustainable Schools Program and its guiding principles—health, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship—while discussing how DSA plans to support public school districts and community colleges in implementing these practices.

We will recap the 2022 Intervening Code Cycle for Pt 11 CALGreen and look at updates from 2024 Triennial Code Cycle highlighting adopted amendments that impact school design, construction, and operations. We will review proposals for the 2025 Intervening Code Cycle, with a focus on strengthening climate resilience, reducing embodied carbon, and advancing sustainable practices within California’s green building standards in the current and previous code cycles.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of regulatory changes to advance sustainability goals in educational facilities statewide.

Attendees will gain timely and practical insight into how California’s green building standards are evolving and what that means for the future of school design and construction. With the 2024 Triennial Code Update now in effect and proposals for the 2025 Intervening Code Cycle underway, this session provides a unique opportunity to understand regulatory changes before they take hold. Participants will also learn how the Division of the State Architect is working to support public school districts and community colleges in implementing sustainable practices through the Sustainable Schools Program. By attending, you will leave equipped with knowledge to anticipate compliance requirements and provide sustainable learning environments for California’s students.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of the Sustainable Schools Program and how DSA supports school districts and community colleges in implementing sustainable design and construction practices.
• Recap the major amendments in the 2022 Intervening Code Cycle, Pt 11 CalGreen
• Review of 2024 Triennial Code Update and proposals under consideration for the 2025 Intervening Code Cycle, Pt 11 CALGreen with a focus on adopted amendments impacting educational facilities.
• Understand the effect of statue on regulations.

Speaker:

Alicia Chavez, Supervising Architect, State of California – Division of the State Architect Headquarters, Sustainability Unit

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